Only if

Only if I could have had a piece of chocolate, everything would have been fine. I would have calmed down, the fear of leaving my comfort zone would have disappeared and I would have been ready to get on the 11 hours and 13 minutes long flight. That piece of chocolate would have been the right medicine for me. Tanju offered to get some from the supermarket but I wanted the real chocolate, the 90 percent cacao kind! Instead I settled for an anti-anxiety pill.

I thought I deserved to calm down my anxiety for I was leaving behind, other than my lovely family,  a Sunday afternoon party, a job interview and a regional Yoga championship where I had planned to cheer for my yogi friends. (Sorry, guys!)

The check-in line for the Turkish flight 8 from Dulles to Istanbul is moving smoothly, although there are a lot of people. Not all are from Turkey; there are Central Asians, Afghans, Chinese, Africans and a lot more that I can't identify.  Istanbul, as they say, is really a melting pot where East meets West.

At that point, my only wish is not be seated next to family with young children. We'll see. As I board the airplane expecting to be greeted by a handsome captain and a pretty Turkish flight attendant, a culinary chef, complete with his chef's hat and apron, sleeves rolled up, greets us. It is like walking into the restaurant in a Four Seasons Hotel. I don't know what to think about it but I am kinda glad that I didn't have dinner earlier or didn't go after that piece of chocolate. Now that I have great expectations, please don't disappoint me chef!

Food is good and the service even better. Looks like my wish came through and there are no children running around my seat. It is amazing to watch people trying to find a comfortable position  to sleep during a long flight. There are no positions you can twist your body to have shut-eye sleep in an economy seat. You probably can get a few hours of OK sleep and that's what I ended up getting. Woke up the smell of the airline prepared omelet and be glad that the flight is only nine hours.

My brother and a good friend are meeting me at the airport. It's not like that we haven't seen each other for years, but it will still be an emotional moment for me. I expect my hugs and kisses.

My luggage comes and I rush to the arrival hall. I am filled with such joy that I feel like a puppy getting her treat. I get my hug from my brother, not letting him go for a while. Then Aygun who has been a dear friend over the years. She always exudes energy and an endearing excitement . I feel good. I am home again and back in my comfort zone.